owens



Nov. 18, 1930. F. H. OWENS Re. 17,876

TALKING PICTURE APPARATUS Original Filed June 13, 1927 INVENTO'R FREEMANH. OWENS.

ATTORNEY Reiasued Nov. 18, 1930 FREEMAN H. OWENS,

or NEW YORK, NfY.

' TALKING-PICTURE APPARATUS Original No. 1,735,335, dated November 12,1929, Serial No. 198,647, filed dune 13, 1927.

Application for reissue filed December 4, 1929. Serial No. 411,703.

My invention relates broadly to talking picture projecting systems andmore particularly to film control mechanism for talking pictureprojecting machines.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a talkin pictureprojection apparatus in which a film having a sound record recordedthereon is moved over a transparent sprocket mechanism for controllingthe 1ntensity of light from a light source ad acent the film inaccordance with the record on the film and the effect thereof upon alight sensitive element.

Another object of my invention is to pro- -16 vide a film mechanism fortalking picture projection machines wherein a film having a sound recordrecorded thereon is passed over a transparent guiding surface and lightrays directed through the film and upon a light sensitive cell on theopposite side of the transparent surface for controlling an electricalcircuit and a sound reproducing system in accordance with the record onthe film.

Another object of'my inventioni's to pro.- vide means for pressing afilm into continuous engagement with a transparent cylindrical surfacewhile subjecting the filnr to a light slit for affecting the conditionof a light sensitive cell adjacent the transparent cylindrical surfaceand correspondingly controlling sound reproduction in accordance withthe sound record on the film.

Still another object of .my invention is to provide a film mechanism fortalking picture apparatus, wherein a light sensitive element is arran edon one side of a transparent cylindrical rive sprocket and a lightsource 1s arranged on the opposite side of the sprocket, and light raysdirected through the sprocket upon the light sensitive element andvaried in accordance with a sound record on a film which is passed overthe sprocket and pressed into-engagement with the surface thereof.

Still another object of mylinvention is to provide an elongated lightslit and a movable framing member for limiting a narrow beam of light toa selected portion of the slit, so that any one of a plurality of soundrecords on a film may be selectively reproduced. The objects andadvantages of my invenpermitting tion will be more fully understood fromthe specification hereinafter following, and by reference to theaccompanying drawing, in

which:

Figure 1 diagraml'natically illustrates the arrangement of the severalparts of the apparatus of my invention; Fig. 2 is a crosssectional Viewtaken through the glass sprocket and film guide on line 22 of Fig. 1;and, Fig. 3 is a plan View of the film guide mechanism and movableframing member employed in the apparatus of my invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail,I provide a pair of sprocket members1 and 2, each including an inwardly extending shoulder 1 and 2,respectively. The sprocket members are carried by shafts 1 and 2*Suitably journaled for effecting rotation of the assembled sprockets,Sprocket teeth 1 and 2 are provided onthe peripheries of the sprockets 1and 2 for driving the film 4 over the surface of the cylindrical member3, which is supported between the shoulders 1 and 2 on sprocket members1 and 2. The film 4 is driven by means of sprockets 5 and 6., suflicientslack being imparted to the film to enable the film to be uniformlymoved over the transparent surface The film 4 includes a plurality ofindependent rows of sound records represented in Fig. 3 at 7, 8, 9, 10,11,12 and 13. The film is pressed uniformlyagainst the surface of thecylindrical member 3 by means of fingers 14 and 15 whichare integrallyconnected with the slit holder 16. The slit holder 16 is long. andnarrow, extending the entire width of the film 4t, and mounted in theslit holder I provide a tapered glass slit 17 which has its narrow endresting in engagement with the film 4. The slit holder 16'is slotted atopposite ends thereof to enable a slidable framing member 19 to bepassed therethrough and moved to selected positions. member 19 has alight aperture 20 therein, light to be passed in a narrow beam throughthe light slit 17 from the light source 23 at any selected positionacross the T he framing y from the light source 23 for directing thestrip 19 and aperture rays through the glass slit 17 upon the film 4 asdetermined by the position of the framing 20.

In Fig. 3 I have shownthe framing strip 19 located in such position thataperturev 2.0. is immediately over the sound record which is aligned inrow No. 8 enabling light to be passed through the glass slit 17 andthrough the sound record 8 and transparent sprocket 3 upon the lightsensitive, element 26 which is arranged in the housing 25. I haveillustrated a photoelectric cell at 26 which may be connected in theinputcircuit of an amplifier system for controlling a sound :reproducerin accordance with the sound recordon the fi1m4.

Any selected recordon the film may be readily reproduced by sliding theframing strip 19 to. a selected position. The pad having fingers 14 and15 serves to uniformly press the film into contact engagement with thetransparent sprocket 3 for reproduction of the desired record upon thefilm.

While I have described my invention in certain preferred embodiments, Idesire'that it be understood that modifications may be made and that nolimitations ventionare intended other than are imposed by the scope ofthe appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is as as follows 1. A, sound reproducing system comprising meansfor moving a film having a sound record thereon, a cylindrical member oftransparent material, means for guld ng said film over said cylindricalmember, a li ht source arranged on one side of said cylin rical member,a light sensitive cell ppsitioned on the opposite side of said cylndrical memher, a light slit disposed between sa d light source and saidfilm, means ad]acent sa1d light slit for guiding said film against thesurface of said cylindrical member,means for concentrating the rays fromsaid light source through said slit and said cylindrical member uponsaid light sensitive cell.

2. Ina system for directing light rays upon a photoelectric cell, acylindrical member of transparent material, means for guid- I ing a filmover said-cylindrical member, a source oflight disposed adjacent oneside of said cylindrical member, a light slit positioned between saidsource and said cylindri- "cal member, means adjacent said light slitfor pressing said film into engagement with the surface of saidcylindrical member, means for concentrating rays of light from saidsource upon said slit, and a photoelectric cell disposed adjacent theopposlte side of said cylindrical member v for receiving; light raysfrom said light source varied minlight source,

tensity in accordance With a sound record on said film.

3. Ina second reproducing system a film having a sound record thereon,means 'for moving said film, a pair of sprocket members for engagingopposite sides of said film, a cylindrical member of transparentmaterial disposed between said sprocket members, means brid ing saidsprocket members for pressing sai surface. of said cylindrical member, aslit carried by said means, a light source disposed adjacent said slit,a framlno member slidable laterally of said film for seIectivelyexposing any selected portion of said film to light rays from saidsource, and a light sensitive cell disposed on the opposite side ofsaidcylindrical member for receiving light rays through said slit and saidon saidfilm,

4., In a soundreproducingsystem a film having-a soundrecord thereon,means for driving said film, a-transparent cylindrical member, saidtransparent cylindrical member, a source of-light, a taperedlight slitengaging said film at its tapered end disposed between said sourceandsaid film, atmember mounted between said source and said slit andadjustable laterally of said film for selectively exposing any selectedportion of said film to light rays, anda li ht sensitive cell positionedon the opposite side of said transparent cylindrical member forreceiving rays of light from said source varied in accordance with therecord on said film.

5. In a sound reproducing apparatus mechanism for moving a film having asound record thereon, parent material, a light source disposed on oneside of said'cylindrical member and a li ht sensitive cell disposed onthe opposite si e of said cylindricalmember, means for guiding saidfilmagainst the, surface of said cylindrical member on the side adjacentsaid and a light slit carried by said means and a framing member movablewith respect to said slit for selectivel exposing a selected portion ofsaid film to t e rays from said source, said light slit being inengagement with said film surface; 3 1

6.- In a sound reproducing apparatus mechanism formovin-g a film havingavsound record thereon, a'cylindrical member of transparent material, alight source disposed on one side of said cylindrical member, and alightsensitive oelldisposed on the opposite side ofsaidcylindricalmember, means for guiding said film against the surface of'said filminto engagement with the meansv for guiding said filmover 7 acylindricalmemberof trans- H on the side adjacent said ing a l'tght slit thereinextending the width of said 1m, and a framing member shiftable toselected positions over said light slit for exposing selected portionsof said film to the member, a light sensitive cell disposed on theopposite side of said cylindrical member, means for pressing said filminto contact with the surface of said cylindrical member, said meanscomprising a pair of fingers engaging opposite edges of the film, acarrier or a li ht slit disposed between said fingers, and a ramingmember slidably mounted in said carrier for selectively exposing aportion of said film to the light rays from said light source forvariably controlling said light sensitive cell in accordance with therecord on said film.

8. In a sound reproducing system film mechanism for moving a film havinga sound record thereon, a pair of rotatable sprocket members, atransparent cylindrical member mounted between said sprocket members androtatable therewith, a pair of parallel finger members arranged toengage opposite edges of said film for pressing the film into engagementwith said transparent cylindrical member, a tapered carrier disposedbetween said finger members, a glass slit positioned in said taperedcarrier and having the edges thereof engaging the surface of said film,a light source disposed adjacent said slit for directing light raysthereon, a light sensitive cell positioned on the opposite side of saidcylindrical member, and a framing member having a light aperture thereinfor subjecting said light sensitive cell to light rays from said sourceunder control of the sound record on said film.

9. Sound reproducing means comprising a light source, means for moving afilm bearing a multiplicity of sound records arranged side by sidelongitudinally of said film, a slit extendin laterally of said film thewidth of all of sai sound records, a movable mask between said lightsource and film and provided with an opening to permit the passage oflight to any selected one only of said sound records through said slit,and a light sensitive element for receiving the modulated light passinthrough said slit.

10. ound reproducing means comprising a light source 01E constantintensity a transparent sprocket for moving a film bearing amultiplicity of sound records in parallel relation longitudinally ofsaid film, an optical slit extending laterally of saidfilm the width ofall of said sound records, a movable mask between said light source andfilm and provided with an opening to permit the passage of light to anselected one of said sound records throng said slit, and a photoelectriccell for receiving the modulated light from said slit.

11. Sound reproducing means comprising a light source, a multiplicity ofsound records arranged side by side longitudinally on a film, meansformoving said film, a light slitextending laterally of said film the widthof all of said sound records, means for restricting the passage of lightfrom said source through said slit to a selected one only of said soundrecords and a light sensitive device arranged to receive light modulatedby the selected sound record. I

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York this29th day of November, A. D. 1929.

FREEMAN H. OWENS.

